50 years after Marshal Matt Dillon’s last draw, ‘Gunsmoke’ is a streaming hit
In 1975, when the long-running western drama “Gunsmoke” concluded its 20-year run on CBS, Los Angeles Times critic Cecil Smith made an audacious forecast.
Smith wrote that it seems likely that the first lunar settlement we create will be tuned in to shows like ‘I Love Lucy’ and ‘Gunsmoke’,” or more informally, “Smith wrote that future moon colonists might find themselves watching ‘I Love Lucy’ and ‘Gunsmoke.’
Regarding colonization, we’re still a bit away, but Smith’s prediction about viewing trends is spot-on.
This year, the classic western series “Gunsmoke,” featuring James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, has been included in Nielsen’s list of most-streamed acquired shows alongside modern hits like “Family Guy,” “NCIS,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show garnered 646 million minutes watched during the week of March 3-9, and a further 570 million minutes for the week of April 28-May 4.
The classic western series “Gunsmoke,” under the ownership of Paramount Global, has now been made available on NBCUniversal’s streaming platform, Peacock. Interestingly, it was quite popular on Paramount+’s platform as well. However, its largest viewer base is actually found on Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming service owned by Paramount Global.
Entertainment & Arts
Timeless TV comedies like “I Love Lucy,” “MASH” and “Friends” seem destined to keep entertaining audiences as long as there are televisions available.
The long-lasting popularity of the series, which takes place in Dodge City, Kansas during the 1870s, shows that each advancement in media consumption can unveil the worth of classic, timeless productions. Even after finishing production half a century ago, “Gunsmoke” has consistently remained relevant, attracting audiences on cable (currently airing on TV Land and INSP), various home video formats, traditional broadcast channels like MeTV, and more recently, streaming platforms.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that if a show is truly exceptional, it won’t go unnoticed. Even when it’s hidden on channels like MeTV, where “Gunsmoke” has been airing since 2006 for us at Weigel Broadcasting, its allure manages to draw in over half a million viewers during the daytime.
Beginning as a radio play on CBS in 1952, “Gunsmoke” featured William Conrad in the lead role, voicing the character. Later, in 1955, it moved to television as a half-hour series, with James Arness stepping into the boots of Dillon following the advice of his friend John Wayne, who declined the part initially.
In my experience, “Gunsmoke” was an instant success, consistently ranking as the most-watched television series in four out of its first five seasons. This popularity extended to an hour-long format in 1961. Even amidst the influx of westerns on network TV schedules during that era, “Gunsmoke” managed to stand the test of time and remained a top 10 prime-time show well into the early 1970s. Interestingly, when “Gunsmoke” was temporarily removed from CBS’s schedule in 1967, due to increasing production costs, the network’s founder, Bill Paley, and his wife, Babe, strongly advocated for its return.
Prior to “Gunsmoke,” the majority of Western television series were designed for younger viewers. However, “Gunsmoke” stood out as it was intended for adults due to its graphic violence and unsparing portrayal of the raw, tough life in the American frontier.
The creators of “Gunsmoke” honored the show’s historical backdrop while also being attuned to their contemporary era. Episodes from the early 1960s, which frequently starred a young Burt Reynolds as a half-Comanche blacksmith in Dodge City, seem to serve as parables about racism during a time when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum.
In my humble opinion as a movie aficionado, the series maintained a commendable level of continuity throughout its duration, with the talented duo of Lee Marvin (Doc) and Milburn Stone embodying their roles flawlessly from start to finish. Notably, Amanda Blake, portraying saloon owner Kitty Russell, graced our screens for an impressive 19 seasons. As for whether the romantic chemistry between Kitty and Marshal Dillon was ever more than just professional, that’s a topic of ongoing debate among dedicated fans.
Sabin thinks that the TV series “Gunsmoke” might be experiencing increased viewership because people often turn to what’s familiar and comforting in uncertain times. Moreover, the show offers a protagonist with a solid moral compass.
“Matt Dillon represents a lot of what we don’t have right now,” Sabin said.
Hollywood Inc.
Oh dear, Piper! HBO never fails to stir up excitement for ‘The White Lotus’ by weaving together popular trends, eye-catching garments, and travel inspiration that truly captivate viewers.
Dan Cohen, who holds the position of Chief Content Licensing Officer at Paramount Global and also serves as President of Republic Pictures, expressed that he isn’t taken aback by the durability of “Gunsmoke,” given the strong loyalty of western genre fans, which extends beyond U.S. borders.
International broadcasters have consistently shown high interest in the “Gunsmoke” series. At present, it is being aired in countries such as Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Israel.
According to Cohen, it’s quite probable that the program has recently experienced a surge in popularity due to the immense success of “Yellowstone” and the collection of spinoff series created by Taylor Sheridan, all of which are distributed globally by Paramount Global.
According to Cohen, a “halo effect” is observed when Western shows are popular internationally. When we sell ‘Yellowstone,’ it often sparks a discussion about similar series. In response to this query, we offer ‘Gunsmoke’ as our other Western show.
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2025-06-12 13:31